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Hovestadt T, Poethke HJ, Müller J, Mitesser O. Species Diversity and Habitat Fragmentation Per Se: The Influence of Local Extinctions and Species Clustering. Am Nat 2024; 203:655-667. [PMID: 38781529 DOI: 10.1086/729620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
AbstractAnthropogenic fragmentation of habitat is considered to be a critical factor contributing to the decline of species. However, a general consensus on the degree to which habitat loss and what has been called "habitat fragmentation per se" contribute to the loss of species diversity has not yet emerged. For empirical and theoretical reasons the topic has recently attracted renewed attention, thus reviving the "single large or several small" (SLOSS) debate. To study the effect of fragmentation per se, we use a spatially explicit and continuous, competitively neutral simulation model with immigration from a regional pool. The model accounts for the influence of ecological drift and intrafragment species clustering (due to limited dispersal) on local (plot) and global (landscape) diversity. We find that fragmentation increases global diversity but decreases local diversity, prominently so if fragments become more isolated. Cluster formation is a key mechanism reducing local diversity. By adding external disturbance events that lead to the occasional extinction of entire communities in habitat fragments, we show that the combined effect of such extinctions and cluster formation can create nonlinear interactive effects of fragmentation and fragment isolation on diversity patterns. We conclude that while in most cases fragmentation will decrease local and increase landscape diversity, universal predictions concerning the SLOSS debate should be taken with care.
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Kumari A, Tapwal A, Thakur N. Ganoderma lucidum: Insights on host range, diagnosis, and management strategies. J Basic Microbiol 2024:e202300769. [PMID: 38686908 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Forest ecosystems play an important role in upholding life on our planet. However, the onslaught of fungal pathogens like Ganoderma lucidum, poses a threat by decimating numerous tree species. G. lucidum identified as a root pathogen, causing root rot in numerous tree species of horticulture and forestry importance. The fungus initiates infection through basidiospores, which germinate and penetrate within roots and start to degrade lignocellulosic components of plant cells. Early-stage detection of G. lucidum, is challenging, while in advance stages, the wood undergoes softening and a loss of tensile strength, rendering the disease incurable. Hence, effective management of G. lucidum necessitates a pivotal role of disease diagnostic techniques, which are currently underutilized or inadequately accessible. Subsequent implementation of suitable control measures becomes imperative to thwart disease occurrence and mitigate its impact in early stages, thus preserving the vitality of forest ecosystems. This study provides comprehensive overview of G. lucidum, covering taxonomy, pathogenicity, disease cycle, diagnosis and effective control measures, which will be helpful in formulating effective diagnostic techniques for early management of root rot disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwani Kumari
- Forest Protection Division, ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Ashwani Tapwal
- Forest Protection Division, ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Neha Thakur
- Forest Protection Division, ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
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3
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Villegas P, Gili T, Caldarelli G, Gabrielli A. Evidence of scale-free clusters of vegetation in tropical rainforests. Phys Rev E 2024; 109:L042402. [PMID: 38755841 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.109.l042402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Tropical rainforests exhibit a rich repertoire of spatial patterns emerging from the intricate relationship between the microscopic interaction between species. In particular, the distribution of vegetation clusters can shed much light on the underlying process that regulates the ecosystem. Analyzing the distribution of vegetation clusters at different resolution scales, we show the first robust evidence of scale-invariant clusters of vegetation, suggesting the coexistence of multiple intertwined scales in the collective dynamics of tropical rainforests. We use field data and computational simulations to confirm our hypothesis, proposing a predictor that could be particularly interesting to monitor the ecological resilience of the world's "green lungs."
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Villegas
- 'Enrico Fermi' Research Center (CREF), Via Panisperna 89A, 00184 - Rome, Italy
- Instituto Carlos I de Física Teórica y Computacional, Universidad de Granada, Granada E-18071, Spain
| | - Tommaso Gili
- Networks Unit, IMT Scuola Alti Studi Lucca, Piazza San Francesco 15, 55100- Lucca, Italy
| | - Guido Caldarelli
- DMSN, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 - Venice, Italy
- European Centre for Living Technology (ECLT), Dorsoduro 3911, 30123 - Venice, Italy
- Institute for Complex Systems (ISC), CNR, UoS Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 - Rome, Italy
- London Institute for Mathematical Sciences (LIMS), W1K2XF London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Gabrielli
- 'Enrico Fermi' Research Center (CREF), Via Panisperna 89A, 00184 - Rome, Italy
- Institute for Complex Systems (ISC), CNR, UoS Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 - Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Informatica e delle Tecnologie Aeronautiche, Università degli Studi 'Roma Tre', Via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 - Rome, Italy
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4
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Li Y, Wei L. Species and structural diversity of trees at the structural type level. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:40. [PMID: 38549102 PMCID: PMC10976781 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02229-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Species and structural diversity are important for understanding the formation of forest communities, key ecological processes, and improving forest ecological functions and services, but their spatial characteristics have received little attention. Based on the spatial relationships among neighbouring trees, we proposed to divide trees within a structural unit into 15 structural types, and used the univariate distributions of the uniform angle index (W), mingling (M), and dominance (U), along with four common species diversity indices, to analyse the diversity of structural types in natural forests near the Tropic of Cancer. RESULTS Only a portion of clumped class maintained aggregation, most exhibited a random pattern. Species mixture increased exponentially across distribution classes, and abundance and richness exhibited an initial increase followed by a slight decrease. The distribution patterns of mixture classes varied from highly clustered to random, and M distributions gradually shifted from an inverted J-shaped curve to a J-shaped curve. Abundance and richness exhibited an exponential distribution, whereas the Shannon-Wiener index increased linearly. The W distribution of differentiation classes approximated a normal distribution, whereas M distributions exhibited a J shape. The U distribution of each structure type was approximately 0.2. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal the species and structural diversity characteristics of trees at the structural type level and expand our knowledge of forest biodiversity. The new method proposed here should significantly contribute to biodiversity monitoring efforts in terrestrial ecosystems, and suggests that higher standards for the simulation and reconstruction of stand structure, as well as thinning in near-natural forests, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfa Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
- Laibin Jinxiu Dayaoshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Guangxi. No, Jinxiu County, 95 Gongde Road, Laibin, 545700, Guangxi, China.
- College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Daxue East Road 100, Xixiangtang DistrictGuangxi Province, Nanning, 530004, China.
| | - Liting Wei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
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Ma F, Wang S, Sang W, Zhang S, Ma K. Spatial Distribution and Sustainable Development of Living Woody and Coarse Woody Debris in Warm-Temperate Deciduous Broadleaved Secondary Forests in China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:638. [PMID: 38475484 DOI: 10.3390/plants13050638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The investigation into the spatial patterns of living woody (LWD) and coarse woody debris (CWD) in warm-temperate deciduous broadleaved secondary forests serves as a foundational exploration of the mechanisms governing coexistence and mortality in forest ecosystems. The complete spatial randomness null model (CSR) was employed to analyze spatial distribution patterns, with the independent component null model (IC) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) utilized to elucidate spatial correlations and topographic influences. All three models were applied to LWD and CWD across various size classes within a 20-hectare plot in the Dongling Mountains. The study's findings indicate that both LWD and CWD predominantly exhibited aggregated patterns, transitioning to a random distribution as the size class increased. Both increasing abundance and maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) also have a significant influence on the distribution of species. Notably, rare species exhibited higher aggregation compared to common and abundant species. The spatial correlation results between LWD and CWD across various size classes predominantly showed positive correlations and uncorrelated patterns within the sampled plots. CCA analysis further revealed that elevation, convexity, slope, and aspect significantly influenced the spatial patterns of LWD and CWD across different size classes. Within the sample site, trees display a tendency to grow and die in clusters. Biotic factors have a more significant influence on species distribution than abiotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Shunzhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Weiguo Sang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, #27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Keming Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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de Lima RAF, Dauby G, de Gasper AL, Fernandez EP, Vibrans AC, Oliveira AAD, Prado PI, Souza VC, F de Siqueira M, Ter Steege H. Comprehensive conservation assessments reveal high extinction risks across Atlantic Forest trees. Science 2024; 383:219-225. [PMID: 38207046 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq5099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity is declining globally, yet many biodiversity hotspots still lack comprehensive species conservation assessments. Using multiple International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria to evaluate extinction risks and millions of herbarium and forest inventory records, we present automated conservation assessments for all tree species of the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, including ~1100 heretofore unassessed species. About 65% of all species and 82% of endemic species are classified as threatened. We rediscovered five species classified as Extinct on the IUCN Red List and identified 13 endemics as possibly extinct. Uncertainties in species information had little influence on the assessments, but using fewer Red List criteria severely underestimated threat levels. We suggest that the conservation status of tropical forests worldwide is worse than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato A F de Lima
- Tropical Botany, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900 Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Gilles Dauby
- Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (AMAP), Université de Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - André L de Gasper
- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Rua Antônio da Veiga, 140, 89030-903 Blumenau, Brazil
| | - Eduardo P Fernandez
- Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora (IUCN SSC Brazil Plant Red List Authority), Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, 22460-030 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexander C Vibrans
- Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Rua São Paulo, 3250, 89030-000 Blumenau, Brazil
| | - Alexandre A de Oliveira
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, 321, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo I Prado
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, 321, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vinícius C Souza
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900 Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Marinez F de Siqueira
- Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora (IUCN SSC Brazil Plant Red List Authority), Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, 22460-030 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente 225, 22451-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hans Ter Steege
- Tropical Botany, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands
- Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands
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Elsy AD, Pfeifer M, Jones IL, DeWalt SJ, Lopez OR, Dent DH. Incomplete recovery of tree community composition and rare species after 120 years of tropical forest succession in Panama. Biotropica 2024; 56:36-49. [PMID: 38515454 PMCID: PMC10952663 DOI: 10.1111/btp.13275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Determining how fully tropical forests regenerating on abandoned land recover characteristics of old-growth forests is increasingly important for understanding their role in conserving rare species and maintaining ecosystem services. Despite this, our understanding of forest structure and community composition recovery throughout succession is incomplete, as many tropical chronosequences do not extend beyond the first 50 years of succession. Here, we examined trajectories of forest recovery across eight 1-hectare plots in middle and later stages of forest succession (40-120 years) and five 1-hectare old-growth plots, in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM), Panama. We first verified that forest age had a greater effect than edaphic or topographic variation on forest structure, diversity and composition and then corroborated results from smaller plots censused 20 years previously. Tree species diversity (but not species richness) and forest structure had fully recovered to old-growth levels by 40 and 90 years, respectively. However, rare species were missing, and old-growth specialists were in low abundance, in the mid- and late secondary forest plots, leading to incomplete recovery of species composition even by 120 years into succession. We also found evidence that dominance early in succession by a long-lived pioneer led to altered forest structure and delayed recovery of species diversity and composition well past a century after land abandonment. Our results illustrate the critical importance of old-growth and old secondary forests for biodiversity conservation, given that recovery of community composition may take several centuries, particularly when a long-lived pioneer dominates in early succession. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D. Elsy
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - Marion Pfeifer
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Modelling, Evidence and Policy GroupNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Isabel L. Jones
- Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - Saara J. DeWalt
- Department of Biological SciencesClemson UniversityClemsonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Omar R. Lopez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboaPanama
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT)ClaytonPanama
| | - Daisy H. Dent
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboaPanama
- Max Planck Institute for Animal BehaviorKonstanzGermany
- Department of Environmental Systems ScienceETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
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Hayes WM, O'Shea BJ, Pierre MA, Wilson A, Bicknell JE. Bird communities across different levels of human settlement: A comparative analysis from two northern Amazonian ecoregions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166535. [PMID: 37634729 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Urban ecosystems are increasingly dominating landscapes globally, so it is critical to understand the effects of human settlements on biodiversity. Bird communities are effective indicators because they are impacted by the size and expansion of human settlements, exemplified by changes in their habitat use, breeding and foraging behaviours, as well as patterns of richness and abundance. Existing studies on bird community responses to human settlements have mainly focused on single ecoregions and large cities, leaving a gap in comparative research on how differently sized human settlements affect bird communities across various ecoregions. To address this gap, we examine species richness, bird abundances and community composition in human settlements, which exhibit variable sizes, populations, landscape configurations, and overall intensity of settlement in two tropical ecoregions in Guyana, Amazonia: forest and savannah. In each ecoregion we explored how different groupings of urban tolerance in birds responded to human settlements of differing population size and building densities. Overall, we found significant differences in bird communities across the varying levels of human settlement intensity in both ecoregions, with greater differences in bird community composition in the forest ecoregion than the savannah region. In both ecoregions, species richness and abundance were highest at the medium level of settlement of human settlement. Our findings suggest that bird tolerance to human settlements varies based on ecoregion and site-level factors. In the savannah, built features may be benefitting birds from all urban tolerance levels, but they have a negative impact on less urban-tolerant species in the forest ecoregion. Our comparative analysis reveals for the first time that the impact of human settlements on avian communities in northern Amazonia varies among ecoregions, indicating that species evolved to live in a savannah may be more tolerant to human settlements than those more evolved to a forest system.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M Hayes
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK.
| | - Brian J O'Shea
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, United States
| | - Meshach A Pierre
- Tropical Conservation and Development Program, Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, United States
| | - Asaph Wilson
- South Rupununi Conservation Society, Shulinab, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana
| | - Jake E Bicknell
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK
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Cerecedo-Iglesias C, Pretus JL, Hernández-Matías A, Cortés-Avizanda A, Real J. Key Factors behind the Dynamic Stability of Pairs of Egyptian Vultures in Continental Spain. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2775. [PMID: 37685040 PMCID: PMC10486963 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation science aims to identify the factors influencing the distribution of threatened species, thereby permitting the implementation of effective management strategies. This is key for long-lived species that require long-term monitoring such as the worldwide endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). We studied temporal and spatial variations in the distribution of breeding pairs and examined the intrinsic and anthropic factors that may be influencing the abundance of breeding territories in continental Spain. Based on the census data of breeding pairs from 2000, 2008, and 2018, we used Rank Occupancy-Abundance Profiles to assess the temporal stability of the population and identified the spatial heterogeneity through a Local Index of Spatial Autocorrelation analysis. The GLMs showed that the abundance distribution was mainly influenced by the abundance of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) and cattle at a regional scale. Nonparametric comparisons showed that the presence of wind farms had a significant negative effect on local breeding pairs abundance, but that supplementary feeding stations and food resource-related variables had a positive impact. In light of these findings, we recommend a hierarchical approach in future conservation programs involving actions promoting regional-scale food resource availability and highlight the need to address the negative impact of wind farms at local levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catuxa Cerecedo-Iglesias
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| | - Joan Lluís Pretus
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| | - Antonio Hernández-Matías
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
| | - Ainara Cortés-Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Avenida Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Seville, Spain;
- Estacion Biologica Doñana, CSIC, Avenida Americo Vespucio 26, Isla de la Cartuja, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Joan Real
- Equip de Biologia de la Conservació, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat i (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.L.P.); (A.H.-M.); (J.R.)
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10
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Pak U, Guo Q, Liu Z, Wang X, Liu Y, Jin G. Spatial Distribution of Pinus koraiensis Trees and Community-Level Spatial Associations in Broad-Leaved Korean Pine Mixed Forests in Northeastern China. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2906. [PMID: 37631117 PMCID: PMC10459911 DOI: 10.3390/plants12162906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the spatial distributions and associations of tree populations provides better insights into the dynamics and processes that shape the forest community. Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) is one of the most important tree species in broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forests (BKMFs), and little is known about the spatial point patterns of and associations between Korean pine and community-level woody species groups such as coniferous and deciduous trees in different developmental stages. This study investigated the spatial patterns of Korean pine (KP) trees and then analyzed how the spatial associations between KP trees and other tree species at the community level vary in different BKMFs. Extensive data collected from five relatively large sample plots, covering a substantial area within the natural distribution range of KP in northeastern China, were utilized. Uni- and bivariate pair correlation functions and mark correlation functions were applied to analyze spatial distribution patterns and spatial associations. The DBH (diameter at breast height) histogram of KP trees in northeastern China revealed that the regeneration process was very poor in the Changbai Mountain (CBS) plot, while the other four plots exhibited moderate or expanding population structures. KP trees were significantly aggregated at scales up to 10 m under the HPP null model, and the aggregation scales decreased with the increase in size classes. Positive or negative spatial associations were observed among different life stages of KP trees in different plots. The life history stages of the coniferous tree group showed positive spatial associations with KP saplings and juvenile trees at small scales, and spatial independence or negative correlations with larger KP trees at greater scales. All broad-leaved tree groups (canopy, middle, and understory layers) exhibited only slightly positive associations with KP trees at small scales, and dominant negative associations were observed at most scales. Our results demonstrate that mature KP trees have strong importance in the spatial patterns of KP populations, and site heterogeneity, limited seed dispersal, and interspecific competition characterize the spatial patterns of KP trees and community-level spatial associations with respect to KP trees, which can serve as a theoretical basis for the management and restoration of BKMFs in northeastern China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unil Pak
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; (U.P.); (Q.G.); (Z.L.)
| | - Qingxi Guo
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; (U.P.); (Q.G.); (Z.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhili Liu
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; (U.P.); (Q.G.); (Z.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xugao Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110164, China;
| | - Yankun Liu
- Heilongjiang Forestry Engineering and Environment Institute, Harbin 150040, China;
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Forestry Ecological Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Guangze Jin
- Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; (U.P.); (Q.G.); (Z.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Northeast Asia Biodiversity Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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Kalyuzhny M, Lake JK, Wright SJ, Ostling AM. Pervasive within-species spatial repulsion among adult tropical trees. Science 2023; 381:563-568. [PMID: 37535716 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg7021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
For species to coexist, performance must decline as the density of conspecific individuals increases. Although evidence for such conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) exists in forests, the within-species spatial repulsion it should produce has rarely been demonstrated in adults. In this study, we show that in comparison to a null model of stochastic birth, death, and limited dispersal, the adults of dozens of tropical forest tree species show strong spatial repulsion, some to surprising distances of approximately 100 meters. We used simulations to show that such strong repulsion can only occur if CNDD considerably exceeds heterospecific negative density dependence-an even stronger condition required for coexistence-and that large-scale repulsion can indeed result from small-scale CNDD. These results demonstrate substantial niche differences between species that may stabilize species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kalyuzhny
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Lake
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - S Joseph Wright
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Annette M Ostling
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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Roswell M, Harrison T, Genung MA. Biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships change in sign and magnitude across the Hill diversity spectrum. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220186. [PMID: 37246374 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Motivated by accelerating anthropogenic extinctions, decades of biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) experiments show that ecosystem function declines with species loss from local communities. Yet, at the local scale, changes in species' total and relative abundances are more common than species loss. The consensus best biodiversity measures are Hill numbers, which use a scaling parameter, ℓ, to emphasize rarer versus more common species. Shifting that emphasis captures distinct, function-relevant biodiversity gradients beyond species richness. Here, we hypothesized that Hill numbers that emphasize rare species more than richness does may distinguish large, complex and presumably higher-functioning assemblages from smaller and simpler ones. In this study, we tested which values of ℓ produce the strongest BEF relationships in community datasets of ecosystem functions provided by wild, free-living organisms. We found that ℓ values that emphasized rare species more than richness does most often correlated most strongly with ecosystem functions. As emphasis shifted to more common species, BEF correlations were often weak and/or negative. We argue that unconventional Hill diversities that shift emphasis towards rarer species may be useful for describing biodiversity change, and that employing a wide spectrum of Hill numbers can clarify mechanisms underlying BEF relationships. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Roswell
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Tina Harrison
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
| | - Mark A Genung
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA
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13
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Survey for threatened plants in riparian fragmented forests: A case study on three Vatica (Dipterocarpaceae) species in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan. J Nat Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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14
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Qin-Yuan Z, Quan-Min D, Fang-Cao W, Yu-Zhen L, Bin F, Xiao-Xia Y, Yang Y, Chun-Ping Z, Quan C, Wen-ting L. Cascading effects of seed-stem-individual spatial patterns along a grazing gradient. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1137726. [PMID: 37008474 PMCID: PMC10050678 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1137726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Studying the seed trait-stem trait-individual spatial pattern system is helpful for understanding the developmental direction of plant dynamics and populations under grazing disturbance as well as the antagonistic relationship between animals and plants, but few systematic analyses of this spatial pattern system have been carried out. Kobresia humilis is the dominant species in alpine grasslands. We studied K. humilis seed traits and their relationship with K. humilis reproductive individuals, the relationship between reproductive and vegetative stems, and the weights and spatial patterns of reproductive and nonreproductive individuals under four grazing treatments: no grazing (control), light grazing, moderate grazing and heavy grazing. We explored the relationship among seed size and seed number with reproductive stems and vegetative stems along the grazing gradient and assessed the spatial pattern changes between reproductive and nonreproductive individuals. The results showed the following: (1) Seed size increased with increasing grazing intensity, and the coefficient of variation for seed size and seed number in the heavy grazing treatment was greater than 0.6. (2) The structural equation model showed that grazing treatment had a positive effect on seed number, seed size and reproductive stem number and a negative effect on reproductive stem weight. (3) Grazing treatment did not affect the resource allocation to reproductive stems and vegetative stems per unit length of reproductive K. humilis individuals. (4) Compared with the number of reproductive individuals in the no grazing treatment, the number in the heavy grazing treatment decreased significantly, and the negative correlation between reproductive individuals and nonreproductive individuals changed from a full-scale negative correlation to a small-scale negative correlation and a large-scale positive correlation. Our study showed that grazing could activate and change the resource allocation pattern of dominant species in a grassland and have significant positive effects on reproductive stem number, reproductive stem weight, seed number and seed size. Along a grazing intensity gradient, with the increase in distance between reproductive and nonreproductive individuals, the transformation of intraspecific relationships from a negative correlation to a positive correlation is an ecological strategy conducive to population survival.
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15
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A Severe Hurricane Increases Carbon Dioxide and Methane Fluxes and Triples Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Tropical Forest. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00794-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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16
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Complex ecological communities and the emergence of island species-area relationships. THEOR ECOL-NETH 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12080-022-00545-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIt has been a century since the species-area relationship (SAR) was first proposed as a power law to explain how species richness scales with area. There have been many attempts to explain the origin of this predominant form. Apart from the power law, numerous empirical studies also report a semi-log form of the SAR, but very few have addressed its incidence. In this work, we test whether these relationships could emerge from the assembly of large random communities on island-like systems. The clustering of same-species individuals is central to our results, which we incorporate by modifying the self-interaction term in the generalized Lotka-Volterra equations. Our analysis demonstrates that the two most widely reported relationship forms can emerge due to differences in immigration rates and skewness towards weak interactions. We particularly highlight the incidence of the semi-log SAR for low immigration rates from a source pool, which is consistent with several previous empirical studies. The two SAR forms might show good fits to data over a large span of areas but a power-law overestimates species richness on smaller islands in remote archipelagoes.
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17
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Flint I, Golding N, Vesk P, Wang Y, Xia A. The saturated pairwise interaction Gibbs point process as a joint species distribution model. J R Stat Soc Ser C Appl Stat 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rssc.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Flint
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Nick Golding
- School of Public Health Curtin University Perth West Australia Australia
| | - Peter Vesk
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Science RMIT University Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Aihua Xia
- School of Mathematics and Statistics The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
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18
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Yang Z, Luo Y, Ye N, Yang L, Yin Q, Jia S, He C, Yuan Z, Hao Z, Ali A. Disentangling the effects of species interactions and environmental factors on the spatial pattern and coexistence of two congeneric Pinus species in a transitional climatic zone. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9275. [PMID: 36110869 PMCID: PMC9465400 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Congeneric species are critical for understanding the underlying ecological mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance. Ecological mechanisms such as conspecific negative density dependence, species differences in life-history stages related to habitat preference, and limiting similarity are known to influence plant fitness, thereby influencing species coexistence and biodiversity. However, our understanding of these phenomena as they apply to coexistence among coniferous species is limited. We studied two congeneric Pinus species, Pinus armandii (PA) and Pinus tabulaeformis (PT), both of which are common pioneer species typically succeeded by oaks (Quercus), in a 25-ha warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest. Here, we addressed the following questions: (1) How do population structures and distributions patterns of these two Pinus species vary with respect to different life-history stages? (2) Does intra- and interspecific competition vary with respect to three life-history stages? And (3) What are the relative contributions of topographic and soil variables to the spatial distributions of the species across the three life-history stages? In addressing these questions, we utilized the pair-correlation function g(r), redundancy analysis (RDA), variance partitioning (VP), and hierarchical partitioning (HP) to identify habitat preferences and conspecific negative density dependence at different life-history stages from small to large trees. The results revealed that in both Pinus species, individuals in different life-history stages were subject to significant habitat heterogeneity, with a tendency for small trees to be distributed at higher latitudes that may be represents climate-change-driven migration in both species. In addition, the effects of conspecific negative density dependence on PT were stronger than those on PA due to limited dispersal in PT. Furthermore, we found that interspecific competition was weak due to the species differences in resource utilization and preference for key habitats. Our study shows that congeneric Pinus species avoids competition by exploiting distinct habitats and provides insight into forest community structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichun Yang
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Ying Luo
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Nan Ye
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Lishunan Yang
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Qiulong Yin
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Shihong Jia
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Chunmei He
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Zuoqiang Yuan
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied EcologyChinese Academy of SciencesLiaoningChina
| | - Zhanqing Hao
- School of Ecology and EnvironmentNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityShaanxiChina
| | - Arshad Ali
- Forest Ecology Research Group, College of Life SciencesHebei UniversityBaodingHebeiChina
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Spatial distribution pattern of dominant tree species in different disturbance plots in the Changbai Mountain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14161. [PMID: 35986205 PMCID: PMC9391346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of disturbance on spatial patterns and species interactions provide critical information on community structure and species coexistence. Two standard plots of 1-ha were set, one of them was a sample plot with retrograde succession after disturbance, and the other one was undisturbed. Spatial indices and Spatial patterns statistics were used to analyze the spatial pattern and inter-specific correlation of main tree species in two plots. Our results showed that the diameter distributions of different species have reverse J-shape, unimodal and bimodal distribution in the disturbed plot, while bell-shaped curves were observed in the undisturbed plot. The distributions of tree species were mainly showed clustered patterns in almost all scales through univariate pair correlation function. Some similar results of the classification of Wiegand scheme of species association consistent with the consequences of the bivariate pair correlation. The mark variograms showed positive autocorrelation at a coarse scale. The current study may aid in efforts of forest management planning and ecosystem services. Meanwhile, different research methods of spatial distribution also help to improve the accuracy of spatial distribution and the interspecific association of tree species.
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20
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Negative Density Restricts the Coexistence and Spatial Distribution of Dominant Species in Subtropical Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests in China. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13081227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Negative densification affects the spatial distribution of species in secondary evergreen broad-leaved forests and is a key mechanism governing species coexistence. We investigated the effects of habitat heterogeneity and density on the spatial distribution of populations of dominant woody species in a secondary evergreen broad-leaved forest in Wuchaoshan using spatial univariate point pattern analyses. This 6 ha forest dynamic monitoring sample area in Hangzhou, China is a typical secondary subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. We found (1) a strong effect of habitat heterogeneity that led to the spatial aggregation of dominant species in the plot. Habitat heterogeneity had a strong impact on mature individuals at different life history stages and of different species on a large scale. (2) Negative density dependence (NDD) generally affected spatial distributions of most dominant species and decreased in magnitude with age class. Therefore, different species of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in China have formed unique spatial structures due to their habitat preferences but are generally subjected to density-dependent effects.
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21
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Gao X, Liu J, Huang Z. The impact of climate change on the distribution of rare and endangered tree
Firmiana kwangsiensis
using the Maxent modeling. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9165. [PMID: 35919389 PMCID: PMC9336174 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The upsurge in anthropogenic climate change has accelerated the habitat loss and fragmentation of wild animals and plants. The rare and endangered plants are important biodiversity elements. However, the lack of comprehensive and reliable information on the spatial distribution of these organisms has hampered holistic and efficient conservation management measures. We explored the consequences of climate change on the geographical distribution of Firmiana kwangsiensis (Malvaceae), an endangered species, to provide a reference for conservation, introduction, and cultivation of this species in new ecological zones. Modeling of the potential distribution of F. kwangsiensis under the current and two future climate scenarios in maximum entropy was performed based on 30 occurrence records and 27 environmental variables of the plant. We found that precipitation‐associated and temperature‐associated variables limited the potentially suitable habitats for F. kwangsiensis. Our model predicted 259,504 km2 of F. kwangsiensis habitat based on 25 percentile thresholds. However, the high suitable habitat for F. kwangsiensis is only about 41,027 km2. F. kwangsiensis is most distributed in Guangxi's protected areas. However, the existing reserves are only 2.7% of the total suitable habitat and 4.2% of the high suitable habitat for the plant, lower than the average protection area in Guangxi (7.2%). This means the current protected areas network is insufficient, underlining the need for alternative conservation mechanisms to protect the plant habitat. Our findings will help identify additional F. kwangsiensis localities and potential habitats and inform the development and implementation of conservation, management, and cultivation practices of such rare tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Gao
- College of Architecture and Design University of South China Hengyang China
| | - Jing Liu
- College of Architecture and Design University of South China Hengyang China
- School of Life Sciences Central China Normal University Wuhan China
| | - Zhihuan Huang
- College of Architecture and Design University of South China Hengyang China
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22
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Mai-Phuong Pham, Nguyen VQ, Nguyen HTM, Nguyen TT, Pham TH. Spatial Distribution Patterns and Associations of Woody Plant Species in the Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests in Central Vietnam. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022050132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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23
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Spatial Distribution and Species Association of Dominant Tree Species in Huangguan Plot of Qinling Mountains, China. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13060866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The spatial distribution pattern and population structure of trees are shaped by multiple processes, such as species characteristics, environmental factors, and intraspecific and interspecific interactions. Studying the spatial distribution patterns of species, species associations, and their relationships with environmental factors is conducive to uncovering the mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance and exploring the underlying ecological processes of community stability and succession. This study was conducted in a 25-ha Qinling Huangguan forest (warm-temperate, deciduous, broad-leaved) dynamic monitoring plot. We used univariate and bivariate g(r) functions of the point pattern analysis method to evaluate the spatial distribution patterns of dominant tree species within the community, and the intra- and interspecific associations among different life-history stages. Complete spatial randomness and heterogeneous Poisson were used to reveal the potential process of community construction. We also used Berman’s test to determine the effect of three topographic variables on the distribution of dominant species. The results indicated that all dominant species in this community showed small-scale aggregation distribution. When we excluded the influence of environmental heterogeneity, the degree of aggregation distribution of each dominant species tended to decrease, and the trees mainly showed random or uniform distribution. This showed that environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the spatial distribution of tree species. Dominant species mainly showed positive associations with one another among different life-history stages, while negative associations prevailed among different tree species. Furthermore, we found that the associations between species were characterized by interspecific competition. Berman’s test results under the assumption of complete spatial randomness showed that the distribution of each dominant species was mainly affected by slope and convexity.
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24
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Fine-scale topographic influence on the spatial distribution of tree species diameter in old-growth beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) forests, northern Iran. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7633. [PMID: 35538117 PMCID: PMC9090739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10606-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran is threatened by human use and encroachment and has suffered degradation in some areas. The forest has been declared a World Heritage Site and management in the region is shifting from timber production to conservation. There is considerable interest in developing a greater understanding of these diverse forest communities to inform forest management and multiple use plans to maintain the diversity and resilience of these forests. The Hyrcanian forest is characterized by a complex topography of catenas ranging up mountain slopes. Topographic gradients greatly influence microhabitat conditions which in turn impact tree distribution. To date there has been limited research on the impacts of this diverse topography on the spatial distribution of tree species and tree diameters in Hyrcanian forests. Such information is necessary to better understand the regional traits of tree diameters in these natural mixed temperate forests before forest management occurs. We examined the influence of the area’s catena topography on the spatial pattern of tree species and on species stand structure in terms of tree diameter distribution. To quantify these dynamics, we conducted a complete enumeration inventory of all trees with dbh >12 cm within a 7.947 ha study area that included three C-shaped (concave) and three V-shaped (convex) catenas. Geostatistical variogram analysis and Clark and Evans aggregation index were utilized to study the spatial distribution of tree diameters. Beech, alder, hornbeam, linden and Persian maple exhibited clustered patterns, and sour cherry, ash, and oak exhibited random patterns. Geostatistical analysis clearly revealed the substantial influence of catena topography on the diameter distributions of alder and linden, more subtle influence on the diameter distributions of beech, and a possible influence on Persian maple, providing valuable insight into stand structure over neighborhood-based indices alone. Alder and linden both exhibited strong spatial structure in their diameter distributions (56% and 86%, respectively) where their diameter was strongly correlated with trees within 108 m and 83 m, respectively, sharing more similar diameters to each other than trees beyond that distance. Beech, maple, and hornbeam exhibited very weak if any spatial structure over short distances. These findings can be used to support the alignment of forest management practices in managed Hyrcanian forests with goals of protecting and maintaining biodiversity and sustainable forest ecosystems, and to inform geospatial modeling of species diameter distributions in areas where a complete stem-map is not feasible.
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25
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Zambrano J, Arellano G, Swenson NG, Staniczenko PPA, Thompson J, Fagan WF. Analyses of three-dimensional species associations reveal departures from neutrality in a tropical forest. Ecology 2022; 103:e3681. [PMID: 35315513 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The study of community spatial structure is central to understanding diversity patterns over space and species co-occurrence at local scales. While most analytical approaches consider horizontal and vertical dimensions separately, in this study we introduce a three-dimensional spatial analysis that simultaneously includes horizontal and vertical species associations. Using tree census data (2000 to 2016) and allometries from the Luquillo forest plot in Puerto Rico, we show that spatial organization becomes less random over time as the forest recovered from land-use legacy effects and hurricane disturbance. Tree species vertical segregation is predominant in the forest with almost all species that co-occur in the horizontal plane avoiding each other in the vertical dimension. Horizontal segregation is less common than vertical, while three-dimensional aggregation (a proxy for direct tree competition) is the least frequent type of spatial association. Furthermore, dominant species are involved in more non-random spatial associations, implying that species co-occurrence is facilitated by species segregation in space. This novel three-dimensional analysis allowed us to identify and quantify tree species spatial distributions, how interspecific competition was reduced through forest structure, and how it changed over time after disturbance, in ways not detectable from two-dimensional analyses alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Zambrano
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, U.S.A
| | - Gabriel Arellano
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, U.S.A.,Oikobit LLC, www.oikobit.com
| | - Nathan G Swenson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A
| | | | - Jill Thompson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Scotland
| | - William F Fagan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.,National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A
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26
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Bui Manh Hung, Smith L, Phuong NTB, Wagner S. Differences in Overstorey Structure and Biodiversity between Forest Stages in Gia Lai, Vietnam. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022130064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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27
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Demographic and growth patterns of
Pentaclethra macroloba
(Willd.) Kuntze, a hyperdominant tree in the Amazon River estuary. POPUL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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28
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Orwig DA, Aylward JA, Buckley HL, Case BS, Ellison AM. Land-use history impacts spatial patterns and composition of woody plant species across a 35-hectare temperate forest plot. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12693. [PMID: 35036094 PMCID: PMC8734465 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Land-use history is the template upon which contemporary plant and tree populations establish and interact with one another and exerts a legacy on the structure and dynamics of species assemblages and ecosystems. We use the first census (2010-2014) of a 35-ha forest-dynamics plot at the Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts to describe the composition and structure of the woody plants in this plot, assess their spatial associations within and among the dominant species using univariate and bivariate spatial point-pattern analysis, and examine the interactions between land-use history and ecological processes. The plot includes 108,632 live stems ≥ 1 cm in diameter (2,215 individuals/ha) and 7,595 standing dead stems ≥ 5 cm in diameter. Live tree basal area averaged 42.25 m2/ha, of which 84% was represented by Tsuga canadensis (14.0 m2/ ha), Quercus rubra (northern red oak; 9.6 m2/ ha), Acer rubrum (7.2 m2/ ha) and Pinus strobus (eastern white pine; 4.4 m2/ ha). These same four species also comprised 78% of the live aboveground biomass, which averaged 245.2 Mg/ ha. Across all species and size classes, the forest contains a preponderance (> 80,000) of small stems (<10-cm diameter) that exhibit a reverse-J size distribution. Significant spatial clustering of abundant overstory species was observed at all spatial scales examined. Spatial distributions of A. rubrum and Q. rubra showed negative intraspecific correlations in diameters up to at least a 150-m spatial lag, likely indicative of crowding effects in dense forest patches following intensive past land use. Bivariate marked point-pattern analysis, showed that T. canadensis and Q. rubra diameters were negatively associated with one another, indicating resource competition for light. Distribution and abundance of the common overstory species are predicted best by soil type, tree neighborhood effects, and two aspects of land-use history: when fields were abandoned in the late 19th century and the succeeding forest types recorded in 1908. In contrast, a history of intensive logging prior to 1950 and a damaging hurricane in 1938 appear to have had little effect on the distribution and abundance of present-day tree species. Our findings suggest that current day composition and structure are still being influenced by anthropogenic disturbances that occurred over a century ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Orwig
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA, United States of America
| | - Jason A. Aylward
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA, United States of America
| | - Hannah L. Buckley
- School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bradley S. Case
- School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Aaron M. Ellison
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA, United States of America,Sound Solutions for Sustainable Science, Boston, MA, United States of America
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29
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Segnitz RM, Russo SE, Peay KG. Interactions with soil fungi alter density dependence and neighborhood effects in a locally abundant dipterocarp species. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8478. [PMID: 35127017 PMCID: PMC8796921 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Seedling recruitment can be strongly affected by the composition of nearby plant species. At the neighborhood scale (on the order of tens of meters), adult conspecifics can modify soil chemistry and the presence of host microbes (pathogens and mutualists) across their combined canopy area or rooting zones. At local or small spatial scales (on the order of one to few meters), conspecific seed or seedling density can influence the strength of intraspecific light and resource competition and also modify the density-dependent spread of natural enemies such as pathogens or invertebrate predators. Intrinsic correlation between proximity to adult conspecifics (i.e., recruitment neighborhood) and local seedling density, arising from dispersal, makes it difficult to separate the independent and interactive factors that contribute to recruitment success. Here, we present a field experiment in which we manipulated both the recruitment neighborhood and seedling density to explore how they interact to influence the growth and survival of Dryobalanops aromatica, a dominant ectomycorrhizal tree species in a Bornean tropical rainforest. First, we found that both local seedling density and recruitment neighborhood had effects on performance of D. aromatica seedlings, though the nature of these impacts varied between growth and survival. Second, we did not find strong evidence that the effect of density on seedling survival is dependent on the presence of conspecific adult trees. However, accumulation of mutualistic fungi beneath conspecifics adults does facilitate establishment of D. aromatica seedlings. In total, our results suggest that recruitment near adult conspecifics was not associated with a performance cost and may have weakly benefitted recruiting seedlings. Positive effects of conspecifics may be a factor facilitating the regional hyperabundance of this species. Synthesis: Our results provide support for the idea that dominant species in diverse forests may escape the localized recruitment suppression that limits abundance in rarer species.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Max Segnitz
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Sabrina E. Russo
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of NebraskaLincolnNebraskaUSA
- Center for Plant Science InnovationUniversity of NebraskaLincolnNebraskaUSA
| | - Kabir G. Peay
- Department of BiologyStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
- Woods Institute for the EnvironmentStanfordCaliforniaUSA
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30
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Bai X, Liu Q, Mohandass D, Cao M, Wen H, Chen Y, Gupta SK, Lin L, Zhang J. Spatial autocorrelation shapes liana distribution better than topography and host tree properties in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest in SW China. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Long Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- Center of Plant Ecology Core Botanical Gardens Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qi Liu
- Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Dharmalingam Mohandass
- Ecological Field Station Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge, Amaggal Forest Doddacombia Nilgiris India
- Novel Research Academy Puducherry India
| | - Min Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
| | - Han‐Dong Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- National Forest Ecosystem Research Station at Ailaoshan Jingdong Yunnan China
| | - Ya‐Jun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- Center of Plant Ecology Core Botanical Gardens Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
| | - Sunil Kumar Gupta
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- Center of Plant Ecology Core Botanical Gardens Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
| | - Lu‐Xiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- Center of Plant Ecology Core Botanical Gardens Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
| | - Jiao‐Lin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
- Center of Plant Ecology Core Botanical Gardens Chinese Academy of Sciences Mengla Yunnan China
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31
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Zhao W, Liang W, Han Y, Wei X. Characteristics and factors influencing the natural regeneration of Larix principis-rupprechtii seedlings in northern China. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12327. [PMID: 34721996 PMCID: PMC8520692 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Larix principis-rupprechtii is an important and widely distributed species in the mountains of northern China. However, it has inefficient natural regeneration in many stands and difficulty recruiting seedlings and saplings. In this study, we selected six plots with improved naturally-regenerated L. principis-rupprechtii seedlings. A point pattern analysis (pair-correlation function) was applied to identify the spatial distribution pattern and correlation between adult trees and regenerated seedlings mapped through X/Y coordinates. Several possible influencing factors of L. principis-rupprechtii seedlings’ natural regeneration were also investigated. The results showed that the spatial distribution patterns of Larix principis-rupprechtii seedlings were concentrated 0–5 m around adult trees when considering the main univariate distribution type of regeneration. There was a positive correlation at a scale of 1.5–4 m between seedlings and adult trees according to bivariate analyses. When the scale was increased, these relationships were no longer significant. Generally, adult trees raised regenerated L. principis-rupprechtii seedlings at a scale of 1.5–4 m. Principal component analysis showed that the understory herb diversity and litter layer had a negative correlation with the number of regenerated seedlings. There was also a weak relationship between regenerated numbers and canopy density. This study demonstrated that the main factors promoting natural regeneration were litter thickness, herb diversity, and the distance between adult trees and regenerated seedlings. Additionally, these findings will provide a basis for the late-stage and practical management of natural regeneration in northern China’s mountain ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwen Zhao
- College of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Wenjun Liang
- College of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Youzhi Han
- College of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
| | - Xi Wei
- College of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
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32
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Villegas P, Gili T, Caldarelli G. Emergent spatial patterns of coexistence in species-rich plant communities. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:034305. [PMID: 34654191 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.034305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Statistical physics has proved essential to analyze multiagent environments. Motivated by the empirical observation of various nonequilibrium features in Barro Colorado and other ecological systems, we analyze a plant-species abundance model of neutral competition, presenting analytical evidence of scale-invariant plant clusters and nontrivial emergent modular correlations. Such first theoretical confirmation of a scale-invariant region, based on percolation processes, reproduces the key features in natural rainforest ecosystems and can confer the most stable equilibrium for ecosystems with vast biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tommaso Gili
- IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, 55100 Lucca, Italy
| | - Guido Caldarelli
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 30172 Venice, Italy.,European Centre for Living Technology, 30124 Venice, Italy.,Institute for Complex Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, UoS Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy.,London Institute for Mathematical Sciences, W1K2XF London, United Kingdom
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33
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Quebbeman A, Davis R, Thompson J, Zimmerman JK, Uriarte M. Percolation threshold analyses can detect community assembly processes in simulated and natural tree communities. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Quebbeman
- Department of Ecology Evolution & Environmental Biology Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Richard Davis
- Department of Statistics Columbia University New York NY USA
| | | | - Jess K. Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico San Juan PR USA
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology Evolution & Environmental Biology Columbia University New York NY USA
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34
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Havmøller LW, Loftus JC, Havmøller RW, Alavi SE, Caillaud D, Grote MN, Hirsch BT, Tórrez‐Herrera LL, Kays R, Crofoot MC. Arboreal monkeys facilitate foraging of terrestrial frugivores. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linnea W. Havmøller
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Research and Collections University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Konstanz Germany
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis Davis California USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Ancón Republic of Panama
| | - J. Carter Loftus
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Konstanz Germany
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis Davis California USA
- Department of Biology University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
| | - Rasmus W. Havmøller
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Research and Collections University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Konstanz Germany
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis Davis California USA
| | - Shauhin E. Alavi
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Konstanz Germany
- Department of Biology University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
| | - Damien Caillaud
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis Davis California USA
| | - Mark N. Grote
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis Davis California USA
| | - Ben T. Hirsch
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Ancón Republic of Panama
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Douglas Queensland Australia
| | | | - Roland Kays
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Ancón Republic of Panama
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Raleigh North Carolina USA
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Margaret C. Crofoot
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Konstanz Germany
- Department of Anthropology University of California Davis Davis California USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Ancón Republic of Panama
- Department of Biology University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior University of Konstanz Konstanz Germany
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35
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Effects of logging on landscape-level tree diversity across an elevational gradient in Bornean tropical forests. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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36
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Ulrich W, Olszewski P, Puchałka R, Sewerniak P, Koprowski M. Inter‐ and intraspecific spatial distributions, spatial segregation by dominants and emergent neutrality in understorey plants. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Werner Ulrich
- Dept of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus Univ.Toruń Poland
| | - Piotr Olszewski
- Dept of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus Univ.Toruń Poland
| | - Radosław Puchałka
- Dept of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus Univ.Toruń Poland
| | - Piotr Sewerniak
- Dept of Soil Science and Landscape Management, Nicolaus Copernicus Univ.Toruń Poland
| | - Marcin Koprowski
- Dept of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus Univ.Toruń Poland
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37
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Baraloto C, Vleminckx J, Engel J, Petronelli P, Dávila N, RÍos M, Valderrama Sandoval EH, Mesones I, Guevara Andino JE, Fortunel C, Allie E, Paine CET, Dourdain A, Goret J, Valverde‐Barrantes OJ, Draper F, Fine PVA. Biogeographic history and habitat specialization shape floristic and phylogenetic composition across Amazonian forests. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Baraloto
- Institute of Environment Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 11200 Southwest 8th Street Miami Florida 33199 USA
- INRAE UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane Université de Guyane Université des Antilles Campus agronomique, BP 316 Kourou Cedex 97379 France
| | - Jason Vleminckx
- Institute of Environment Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 11200 Southwest 8th Street Miami Florida 33199 USA
| | - Julien Engel
- AMAP (botAnique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations) Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD Boulevard de la Lironde Montpellier Cedex 5 TA A‐51/PS234398 France
| | - Pascal Petronelli
- CIRAD, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane Université de Guyane Université des Antilles Campus agronomique, BP 316 Kourou Cedex 97379 France
| | - Nállarett Dávila
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana Iquitos, Peru, Avenida José A. Quiñones km 2.5 Iquitos Loreto Perú
| | - Marcos RÍos
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana Iquitos, Peru, Avenida José A. Quiñones km 2.5 Iquitos Loreto Perú
| | | | - Italo Mesones
- Department of Integrative Biology and Jepson Herbaria University of California, Berkeley 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building 3140 Berkeley California 94720‐3140 USA
| | | | - Claire Fortunel
- AMAP (botAnique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations) Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD Boulevard de la Lironde Montpellier Cedex 5 TA A‐51/PS234398 France
| | - Elodie Allie
- INRAE UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane Université de Guyane Université des Antilles Campus agronomique, BP 316 Kourou Cedex 97379 France
| | - C. E. Timothy Paine
- Environmental and Rural Sciences University of New England Armidale New South Wales 2351 Australia
| | - Aurélie Dourdain
- CIRAD, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane Université de Guyane Université des Antilles Campus agronomique, BP 316 Kourou Cedex 97379 France
| | - Jean‐Yves Goret
- INRAE UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane Université de Guyane Université des Antilles Campus agronomique, BP 316 Kourou Cedex 97379 France
| | - Oscar J. Valverde‐Barrantes
- Institute of Environment Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 11200 Southwest 8th Street Miami Florida 33199 USA
| | - Freddie Draper
- Institute of Environment Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 11200 Southwest 8th Street Miami Florida 33199 USA
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science Arizona State University 1001 South McAllister Avenue Tempe Tempe Arizona 85287 USA
- School of Geography University of Leeds Woodhouse Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Paul V. A. Fine
- Department of Integrative Biology and Jepson Herbaria University of California, Berkeley 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building 3140 Berkeley California 94720‐3140 USA
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38
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Quebbeman AW, Menge DNL, Zimmerman J, Uriarte M. Topography and Tree Species Improve Estimates of Spatial Variation in Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Subtropical Forest. Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00677-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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39
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Borah
- Dept of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State Univ. Logan UT USA
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40
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Brush M, Harte J. Relating the Strength of Density Dependence and the Spatial Distribution of Individuals. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.691792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial patterns in ecology contain useful information about underlying mechanisms and processes. Although there are many summary statistics used to quantify these spatial patterns, there are far fewer models that directly link explicit ecological mechanisms to observed patterns easily derived from available data. We present a model of intraspecific spatial aggregation that quantitatively relates static spatial patterning to negative density dependence. Individuals are placed according to the colonization rule consistent with the Maximum Entropy Theory of Ecology (METE), and die with probability proportional to their abundance raised to a power α, a parameter indicating the degree of density dependence. This model can therefore be interpreted as a hybridization of MaxEnt and mechanism. Our model shows quantitatively and generally that increasing density dependence randomizes spatial patterning. α = 1 recovers the strongly aggregated METE distribution that is consistent with many ecosystems empirically, and as α → 2 our prediction approaches the binomial distribution consistent with random placement. For 1 < α < 2, our model predicts more aggregation than random placement but less than METE. We additionally relate our mechanistic parameter α to the statistical aggregation parameter k in the negative binomial distribution, giving it an ecological interpretation in the context of density dependence. We use our model to analyze two contrasting datasets, a 50 ha tropical forest and a 64 m2 serpentine grassland plot. For each dataset, we infer α for individual species as well as a community α parameter. We find that α is generally larger in the tightly packed forest than the sparse grassland, and the degree of density dependence increases at smaller scales. These results are consistent with current understanding in both ecosystems, and we infer this underlying density dependence using only empirical spatial patterns. Our model can easily be applied to other datasets where spatially explicit data are available.
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41
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Liu J, Bai X, Yin Y, Wang W, Li Z, Ma P. Spatial patterns and associations of tree species at different developmental stages in a montane secondary temperate forest of northeastern China. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11517. [PMID: 34141481 PMCID: PMC8180193 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Secondary forests have become the major forest type worldwide. Research on spatial patterns and associations of tree species at different developmental stages may be informative in understanding the structure and dynamic processes of secondary forests. Methods In this study, we used point pattern analysis to analyze the spatial patterns and associations of tree species at seedling, sapling and adult stages in a 4ha plot in the montane secondary temperate forest of northeastern China. Results We found that species showed similar patterns at seedling, sapling and adult stages, and aggregation was the dominant pattern. The spatial patterns of tree species were mainly affected by habitat heterogeneity. In addition, the strength of positive or negative associated pattern among tree species would decrease with developmental stages, which attributed to neighborhood competition and plant size increasing. Conclusions Our results indicated that the spatial patterns and associations of tree species at seedling and sapling stages partly reflected that at adult stage; habitat heterogeneity and neighborhood competition jointly contributed to species coexistence in this secondary forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Liu
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuejiao Bai
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, China.,Research Station of Liaohe-River Plain Forest Ecosystem, Chinese Forest Ecosystem Research Network (CFERN), Shenyang Agricultural University, Tieling, China.,Qingyuan Forest CERN, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - You Yin
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, China.,Research Station of Liaohe-River Plain Forest Ecosystem, Chinese Forest Ecosystem Research Network (CFERN), Shenyang Agricultural University, Tieling, China.,Qingyuan Forest CERN, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Wenguang Wang
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhiqiang Li
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, China
| | - Pengyu Ma
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agriculture University, Shenyang, China
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42
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Using unmanned aerial vehicles to quantify spatial patterns of dominant vegetation along an elevation gradient in the typical Gobi region in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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43
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Fibich P, Novotný V, Ediriweera S, Gunatilleke S, Gunatilleke N, Molem K, Weiblen GD, Lepš J. Common spatial patterns of trees in various tropical forests: Small trees are associated with increased diversity at small spatial scales. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8085-8095. [PMID: 34188873 PMCID: PMC8216943 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical forests are notable for their high species diversity, even on small spatial scales, and right-skewed species and size abundance distributions. The role of individual species as drivers of the spatial organization of diversity in these forests has been explained by several hypotheses and processes, for example, stochastic dilution, negative density dependence, or gap dynamics. These processes leave a signature in spatial distribution of small trees, particularly in the vicinity of large trees, likely having stronger effects on their neighbors. We are exploring species diversity patterns within the framework of various diversity-generating hypotheses using individual species-area relationships. We used the data from three tropical forest plots (Wanang-Papua New Guinea, Barro Colorado Island-Panama, and Sinharaja-Sri Lanka) and included also the saplings (DBH ≥ 1 cm). Resulting cross-size patterns of species richness and evenness reflect the dynamics of saplings affected by the distribution of large trees. When all individuals with DBH ≥1 cm are included, ~50% of all tree species from the 25- or 50-ha plot can be found within 35 m radius of an individual tree. For all trees, 72%-78% of species were identified as species richness accumulators, having more species present in their surroundings than expected by null models. This pattern was driven by small trees as the analysis of DBH >10 cm trees showed much lower proportion of accumulators, 14%-65% of species identified as richness repellers and had low richness of surrounding small trees. Only 11%-26% of species had lower species evenness than was expected by null models. High proportions of species richness accumulators were probably due to gap dynamics and support Janzen-Connell hypothesis driven by competition or top-down control by pathogens and herbivores. Observed species diversity patterns show the importance of including small tree size classes in analyses of the spatial organization of diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Fibich
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
- Biology Centre CASInstitute of EntomologyČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Novotný
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
- Biology Centre CASInstitute of EntomologyČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Sisira Ediriweera
- Department of Science and TechnologyUva Wellassa UniversityBadullaSri Lanka
| | | | | | - Kenneth Molem
- New Guinea Binatang Research CenterMadangPapua New Guinea
| | - George D. Weiblen
- Department of Plant BiologyBell MuseumUniversity of MinnesotaSt PaulMNUSA
| | - Jan Lepš
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
- Biology Centre CASInstitute of EntomologyČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
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44
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Keil P, Wiegand T, Tóth AB, McGlinn DJ, Chase JM. Measurement and analysis of interspecific spatial associations as a facet of biodiversity. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Keil
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
- Institute of Computer Science Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg 06120 Halle (Saale) Germany
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 Praha – Suchdol165 00 Czech Republic
| | - Thorsten Wiegand
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
- Department of Ecological Modelling Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research ‐ UFZ 04318 Leipzig Germany
| | - Anikó B. Tóth
- Centre for Ecosystem Sciences School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Daniel J. McGlinn
- Department of Biology College of Charleston Charleston South Carolina 29401 USA
| | - Jonathan M. Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Deutscher Platz 5e 04103 Leipzig Germany
- Institute of Computer Science Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg 06120 Halle (Saale) Germany
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45
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Mottl O, Yombai J, Novotný V, Leponce M, Weiblen GD, Klimeš P. Inter‐specific aggression generates ant mosaics in canopies of primary tropical rainforest. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Mottl
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Inst. of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Jacob Yombai
- The New Guinea Binatang Research Center Madang Papua New Guinea
| | - Vojtěch Novotný
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Inst. of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Univ. of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Maurice Leponce
- Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Inst. of Natural Sciences Brussels Belgium
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Univ. Libre de Bruxelles Brussels Belgium
| | - George D. Weiblen
- Bell Museum and Dept of Plant and Microbial Biology, Univ. of Minnesota Saint Paul MN USA
| | - Petr Klimeš
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Inst. of Entomology Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
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46
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Competition Restricts the Growth, Development, and Propagation of Carpinus tientaiensis: A Rare and Endangered Species in China. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12040503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The protection and propagation of rare and endangered species are key to the preservation of their population development; however, due to the scarcity of individuals, the potential effects and status of rare and endangered species in the whole forest ecosystem are still poorly understood. Using data from a 60 × 140 m forest dynamic monitoring sample of the Carpinus tientaiensis (Betulaceae) species in Zhejiang of Southeast China. We assessed the population distribution and diameter at breast height (DBH) structure of the Carpinus tientaiensis species, which was a rare and endangered species, as well as intra- and interspecific correlation with other species. The results show that saplings (1 cm ≤ DBH < 5 cm) and juveniles (5 cm ≤ DBH < 10 cm) were more aggregated than larger individuals (DBH ≥ 20 cm) of Carpinus tientaiensis. The DBH size structure of all the trees shows an obvious inverted “J” distribution. With an increase in the DBH size category, the number of individuals gradually decreases. Due to the diffusion limitation, the spatial distribution patterns of all the tree individuals and roof geese in the sample land are increased at a small spatial scale, and as the spatial scale increases, the degree of aggregation decreases gradually. The relationship between different diameter stages of the population of Carpinus tientaiensis showed a consistent general trend. The spatial distribution of individuals with a large diameter on a small scale was significantly positively correlated (p < 0.001). With an increase in the scale, there was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between individuals with a large diameter and individuals with a small diameter. There was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between the population of Carpinus tientaiensis and other species in the sample, and the strong unidirectional competition of other species in the sample can be seen by the competition index. We found that interspecific competition restricts the growth and expansion of Carpinus tientaiensis, and it has adopted different ecological strategies to coexist with a population of common tree species occupying a similar living space.
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47
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Antão LH, Magurran AE, Dornelas M. The Shape of Species Abundance Distributions Across Spatial Scales. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.626730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Species abundance distributions (SADs) describe community structure and are a key component of biodiversity theory and research. Although different distributions have been proposed to represent SADs at different scales, a systematic empirical assessment of how SAD shape varies across wide scale gradients is lacking. Here, we examined 11 empirical large-scale datasets for a wide range of taxa and used maximum likelihood methods to compare the fit of the logseries, lognormal, and multimodal (i.e., with multiple modes of abundance) models to SADs across a scale gradient spanning several orders of magnitude. Overall, there was a higher prevalence of multimodality for larger spatial extents, whereas the logseries was exclusively selected as best fit for smaller areas. For many communities the shape of the SAD at the largest spatial extent (either lognormal or multimodal) was conserved across the scale gradient, despite steep declines in area and taxonomic diversity sampled. Additionally, SAD shape was affected by species richness, but we did not detect a systematic effect of the total number of individuals. Our results reveal clear departures from the predictions of two major macroecological theories of biodiversity for SAD shape. Specifically, neither the Neutral Theory of Biodiversity (NTB) nor the Maximum Entropy Theory of Ecology (METE) are able to accommodate the variability in SAD shape we encountered. This is highlighted by the inadequacy of the logseries distribution at larger scales, contrary to predictions of the NTB, and by departures from METE expectation across scales. Importantly, neither theory accounts for multiple modes in SADs. We suggest our results are underpinned by both inter- and intraspecific spatial aggregation patterns, highlighting the importance of spatial distributions as determinants of biodiversity patterns. Critical developments for macroecological biodiversity theories remain in incorporating the effect of spatial scale, ecological heterogeneity and spatial aggregation patterns in determining SAD shape.
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Kunert N, Zailaa J, Herrmann V, Muller‐Landau HC, Wright SJ, Pérez R, McMahon SM, Condit RC, Hubbell SP, Sack L, Davies SJ, Anderson‐Teixeira KJ. Leaf turgor loss point shapes local and regional distributions of evergreen but not deciduous tropical trees. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:485-496. [PMID: 33449384 PMCID: PMC8048579 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The effects of climate change on tropical forests will depend on how diverse tropical tree species respond to drought. Current distributions of evergreen and deciduous tree species across local and regional moisture gradients reflect their ability to tolerate drought stress, and might be explained by functional traits. We measured leaf water potential at turgor loss (i.e. 'wilting point'; πtlp ), wood density (WD) and leaf mass per area (LMA) on 50 of the most abundant tree species in central Panama. We then tested their ability to explain distributions of evergreen and deciduous species within a 50 ha plot on Barro Colorado Island and across a 70 km rainfall gradient spanning the Isthmus of Panama. Among evergreen trees, species with lower πtlp were associated with drier habitats, with πtlp explaining 28% and 32% of habitat association on local and regional scales, respectively, greatly exceeding the predictive power of WD and LMA. In contrast, πtlp did not predict habitat associations among deciduous species. Across spatial scales, πtlp is a useful indicator of habitat preference for tropical tree species that retain their leaves during periods of water stress, and holds the potential to predict vegetation responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Kunert
- Conservation Ecology CenterSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVA22630USA
- Forest Global Earth ObservatorySmithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePanamaRepublic of Panama
- Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity ResearchInstitute of BotanyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesGregor‐Mendel Str. 33ViennaA‐1190Austria
| | - Joseph Zailaa
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of California Los Angeles621 Charles E. Young Drive SouthLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Valentine Herrmann
- Conservation Ecology CenterSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVA22630USA
| | | | - S. Joseph Wright
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePO Box 084303092Balboa, AncónRepublic of Panama
| | - Rolando Pérez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePO Box 084303092Balboa, AncónRepublic of Panama
| | - Sean M. McMahon
- Forest Global Earth ObservatorySmithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePanamaRepublic of Panama
- Smithsonian Environmental Research CenterEdgewaterMD21307USA
| | - Richard C. Condit
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePO Box 084303092Balboa, AncónRepublic of Panama
| | - Steven P. Hubbell
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePO Box 084303092Balboa, AncónRepublic of Panama
| | - Lawren Sack
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of California Los Angeles621 Charles E. Young Drive SouthLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Stuart J. Davies
- Forest Global Earth ObservatorySmithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePO Box 37012WashingtonDC20013USA
| | - Kristina J. Anderson‐Teixeira
- Conservation Ecology CenterSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVA22630USA
- Forest Global Earth ObservatorySmithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePanamaRepublic of Panama
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Harte J, Umemura K, Brush M. DynaMETE: a hybrid MaxEnt-plus-mechanism theory of dynamic macroecology. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:935-949. [PMID: 33677842 PMCID: PMC8251983 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Maximum Entropy Theory of Ecology (METE) predicts the shapes of macroecological metrics in relatively static ecosystems, across spatial scales, taxonomic categories and habitats, using constraints imposed by static state variables. In disturbed ecosystems, however, with time-varying state variables, its predictions often fail. We extend macroecological theory from static to dynamic by combining the MaxEnt inference procedure with explicit mechanisms governing disturbance. In the static limit, the resulting theory, DynaMETE, reduces to METE but also predicts a new scaling relationship among static state variables. Under disturbances, expressed as shifts in demographic, ontogenic growth or migration rates, DynaMETE predicts the time trajectories of the state variables as well as the time-varying shapes of macroecological metrics such as the species abundance distribution and the distribution of metabolic rates over individuals. An iterative procedure for solving the dynamic theory is presented. Characteristic signatures of the deviation from static predictions of macroecological patterns are shown to result from different kinds of disturbance. By combining MaxEnt inference with explicit dynamical mechanisms of disturbance, DynaMETE is a candidate theory of macroecology for ecosystems responding to anthropogenic or natural disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Harte
- The Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, CO, 81224, USA.,The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA
| | - Kaito Umemura
- The Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Micah Brush
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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Luskin MS, Johnson DJ, Ickes K, Yao TL, Davies SJ. Wildlife disturbances as a source of conspecific negative density-dependent mortality in tropical trees. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210001. [PMID: 33653133 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Large vertebrates are rarely considered important drivers of conspecific negative density-dependent mortality (CNDD) in plants because they are generalist consumers. However, disturbances like trampling and nesting also cause plant mortality, and their impact on plant diversity depends on the spatial overlap between wildlife habitat preferences and plant species composition. We studied the impact of native wildlife on a hyperdiverse tree community in Malaysia. Pigs (Sus scrofa) are abnormally abundant at the site due to food subsidies in nearby farmland and they construct birthing nests using hundreds of tree saplings. We tagged 34 950 tree saplings in a 25 ha plot during an initial census and assessed the source mortality by recovering tree tags from pig nests (n = 1672 pig-induced deaths). At the stand scale, pigs nested in flat dry habitats, and at the local neighbourhood scale, they nested within clumps of saplings, both of which are intuitive for safe and efficient nest building. At the stand scale, flat dry habitats contained higher sapling densities and higher proportions of common species, so pig nesting increased the weighted average species evenness across habitats. At the neighbourhood scale, pig-induced sapling mortality was associated with higher heterospecific and especially conspecific sapling densities. Tree species have clumped distributions due to dispersal limitation and habitat filtering, so pig disturbances in sapling clumps indirectly caused CNDD. As a result, Pielou species evenness in 400 m2 quadrats increased 105% more in areas with pig-induced deaths than areas without disturbances. Wildlife induced CNDD and this supported tree species evenness, but they also drove a 62% decline in sapling densities from 1996 to 2010, which is unsustainable. We suspect pig nesting is an important feature shaping tree composition throughout the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Scott Luskin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA.,Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniel J Johnson
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kalan Ickes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Tze Leong Yao
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Stuart J Davies
- Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
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